The Big Grill Festival in Herbert Park

Saturday and Sunday brought us to The Big Grill Festival in Herbert Park. It was all about BBQ, Beer and music. Fun times!

We love this festival. It's chilled out and less than a five minute cycle from our house. Pity the weather got really bad on Sunday so we had to call it a wrap at 3pm.

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What I'm doing.....

Here's my usual update on what I'm getting up to.....


Reminiscing while watching Maeve Binchy's Echoes. I remember watching this as a child. It was a great TV series but an even better book. Watch it if you get a chance.
I borrowed it from my local library - it might be available in your library too!

Shopping!  Meadows & Byrne is near my new job. This could be dangerous!!
I bought a cake pan for making this Low Carb Chocolate Pound Cake which I then intend to eat with cream which I will whip myself with this new Kilner Shake & Make :-) 

 

Brunching with my mother to celebrate her birthday. We ate in Kilkenny Design and then browsed the store.

 

We started watching Grace and Frankie on Netflix. It's hilarious. I love it!

When I take the car to work I drive past Donnybrook Church. I snapped a quick pic this evening.
When I cycle, I shortcut so don't get to pass this beautiful building.

"Happenings" in Merrion Square

If you are a regular reader you will know how much I love the film "La La Land"

So when I heard that "Happenings" were showing La La Land at an outdoor cinema in Merrion Square, I immediately made plans with my cousin and sister to get tickets (thanks for arranging tix Amy!).

Other plans involved getting blankets and fold up chairs ready to bring with us.

When we arrived we set up our seats and then visited the concessions and got ourselves some food. Kasey and I both chose BBQ which hit the spot!

The show started at about 9.30pm when it got dark.

It was a very enjoyable evening but it was quite cold. I was glad we weren't sitting on the ground on a picnic blanket!

All in all a fun evening watching an amazing film under the stars.

Beehive Cafe - a coffee shop on a bike!

Look what I saw this morning on my cycle to work!

It's a coffee shop on a bike and it is called the Beehive Cafe!

I stopped to take a quick pic and asked the owner if he had a webpage. He said he has a facebook page called Beehive Cafe.

From facebook I can see they also sell pastries as well as coffee and they offer honey to sweeten your tea.

It is on the Rock Road at Booterstown Park and serves tea & coffee every weekday morning between 7.30am and 10.30am.

What a  clever idea.  I do hope this endeavour works out for this ingenious entrepreneur.

"Patriots Day" with Mark Wahlberg

I have always felt that the Boston Marathon bombings were one of the worst terrorist attacks in the world. There was something that touched me about the attacks on such a group of brave people coming to the end of their marathon. In some ways they were at their strongest (what a feat to complete a marathon) but they were also at their weakest (the body can only get through so much and I think a marathon pushes a body to its limits). What a most cowardly attack to go after these vulnerable brilliant marathoners.

Because of this I was interested to watch Mark Wahlberg's new film "Patriots Day" which is about the Boston Marathon terrorist attack.

It is an incredible film. Very moving and it really gets to the heart of all the people involved. 

I borrowed the dvd from the library and I highly recommend it. 

Boston Strong!

What I have been up to.......

Yesterday was a fun day.  I went in to the city early on Saturday morning to return a coat to Marks & Spencer. 

I then called to my twin sister and we went for a walk to Baggot Street and back. We then had Tia Maria Coffees and hung out together and chatted loads.

This brought me up to midday when I got back on my bike and cycled to Rathmines library to collect a few books I had on reserve. One of them was The Ketogenic Kitchen which is filled with both low carb and keto recipes.

After the library I went to The Hopsack in the Swan Centre where I bought almond flour for Fathead Pizza which I planned on making later that day.

The Hopsack is a great speciality health store that has a massive selection of items and very friendly and helpful staff.


I also bought a few other groceries from Dunnes and then made my way to Parcel Motel on Sandford Road to pick up a parcel (wine glasses for Ciaran's next exhibition).

Whoa my bike crate was packed full - I did not realise how large my package would be!!

But it was all good, I managed to fit it all in.

I only got around to making the low carb Fathead Pizza today.

Here are all of the ingredients that you mix together to make the base.

 

Here it is with the base cooked and the toppings added. All I need to do is put it back in the oven to melt the cheese and voila I will have a perfect low carb thin and crispy pizza for us to enjoy!

Update:

The low carb pizza was a great success. We both agreed it hit the spot and thought it was far tastier than the cauli pizza that I made awhile back.

"Room" at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin

While I was on lunch in work yesterday, I received a text from my sister asking what time were we meeting before going to "Room" in the Abbey.

What!!!

I had completely forgotten that we had made plans!

But there was no issue, I assured her I would cycle directly to her apartment from work. We could have drinks and something to eat there and then make our way to the theatre.

And so that is what we did!

 "Room" started out as a book by Emma Donoghue and then was adapted in to a film and now is a play.

Here I am ordering drinks for us at the bar - ignore my luminous yellow cycling jacket!!

When we entered the theatre, we found our seats near the front. I have said this before but it is worth reiterating - I don't think there is a bad seat to be found in the Abbey. I always end up in the cheaper seats and have never had a bad view of the stage.

What a play.

It was harrowing to watch in so many different parts but was handled so sensitively. It was real, it was raw and it was a very difficult watch at times. But it was also uplifting and hopeful quite possibly due to the spirit of Jack and his Ma because of her desire to get him out of Room.

The crescendo at the end of the first half left us with tears in our eyes and a lump in my throat as the curtain went down. I could not wait to get back in and see the second half.

The next part of the play was just as good as the first part and as we left the theatre we both agreed that it was one of the best plays we had seen. Everything was done so well, the script, the staging and most importantly the acting. It was a phenomenal production and if you get the chance to see it you should definitely go.

Pre-ordered interval drinks are the best.  They are a small pleasure in life :-) 

Thanks Amy for a wonderful night and tickets to a great play!